Computing-kachine



A. A. MoTHs. COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED API'LZI. 1917- 1 ,$22,329. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR ATTORI\IEY6a A.A.MOTH&

COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I. 1911.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNIESSES:

@I ff/M l /ATIOIIIIEY AUGUST A. MOTIIS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

COMPUTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

'Application filed `April 21, 1917. Serial No. 163,541.

To all whom z'tfmag/ concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST A. MoTHs, a citizen oftheUnitedStates,residing at the city of lWilwaukee, county of Milwaukee,and State of `-Wisconsimhave invented new and useful Improvements inComputing- Machines, ofwhieh the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in computing machines. The objectof my invention is to provide a form of construction suitable for allordinary requirements, but which can be manufactured for a smallfraction of the costheretofore incurred in manufacturing computingmachinesfor like purposes. A further object ofmy invention is to providea machine oflight weight, compact and durable structure, which can lbeeasily and accurately.manipulated by an 1nexperienced userto performoperations in addition or subtraction. A further object of my inventionis to provide simple means for the correction of errorsin settingslides, whereby the counting wheels may be retracted, and the slidesreset, preparatory to the recording operation.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa plan-view of'a three slide machine, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the top portion ofrthc machine as seen from theunderside, showing the number slides, printing slides and computingwheels.

F ig. 3 is a view o-f my improved machine in longitudinal section, drawnto 'a vertical plane extending between the slides.

Fig'. 4: is a fragmentary sectional view of the computing wheels'andtheir supporting shaft, drawn to ajvertical plane, exposing the shaftand cutting the top plate and window slide.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

The casing 1 includes the base plate, sideand end walls. The top plate 2is in the form of a cap having depending flanges 3 and 4. The cap isprovided with a bottom wall 5, extending forwardly for a short distancefrom the rear end wall 3, thereby strengthening this portion of the cap.A horizontal pivot pin 7 extends transversely through the cap near therear-end, and pivotally connects the cap with the side walls ofl thecasing y1.

The top plate v2 is provided with-a set of longitudinallslots 9 in itsrear end portion, and a set of sight apertures 11 in its centralportion. A set of slide bars 13 are mounted'insuitable guide ways 1li,on the under surface of the top plate, and these slide bars 13 areprovided with upwardly projecting operating handles 15, which extendthrough the slots 9, as shown, whereby the slides may be drawn forwardlya distance equal to the length of the slots, there being one slide foreach slot, and the surface of the plate 2 beingprovided with an indexnumbering from cipher to nine inclusive, from the rear end ofthe slotVinwardly tothe front end near the corresponding sight aperture 11. `Whenthe slides-,are-in normal position their operating handles 15will belocated at the rear ends of the slots, beyond the zero mark of theindex, and `at a distance therefrom substantially equal to the distancebetween successive in dex marks.

Each slide may also be provided with a pointer 17, which registers withthe zero mark ofthe index when the'slide is in its normal position,whereby when the slide is pushed forwardly, or drawn forwardly, thispointer may be brought into registry successively with the several indexmarks or numerals.

The rear portion of each slide'lS is formed with a set of rack teeth 19,in mesh'with the teeth 21 of a'ratchet wheel 23 loosely mounted upon asupporting cross shaft 2A. Num ber wheels 25 are mounted upon the sameshaft 2.1, one number wheel being employed for each ratchetwheel,and-actuated therefrom by a spring actuated dog 27 connected with theratchet wheel, and adapted to engage in any one of a series of notches29 formed in the side of the number wheel. The dog 27 preferablycomprises a lip, cut from a disk 31 formed of spring metal and securedto t-he side of the ratchet wheel, this disk serving as a spacer betweenthe ratchet wheel and the number wheel. The disk is somewhat larger indiameter thanthe ratchet wheel, and is therefore adapted to serve as aguide for one side of the corresponding slide bar 13, which actua-tessuch ratchet wheel. When a slide 13 is pulled forward, by means ofitsoperating handle 15, the ratchet wheel, which it engages, will beactuated in J(he direction indicated by the arrow in Fig'. 2,

and the number wheel, with which said ratchet wheel is associated, willbe actuated in the same direction by dog 27 engaging in one of thenotches 29. On the return stroke of the slide the ratchet wheel will berotated in the opposite direction, but the number wheel will be heldagainst rotation by a spring actuated dog 33 connected with the frame at35, and adapted to engage any one of the notches 29 of the number wheel,thereby locking the number wheel, or counting wheel, against backwardrotation. The dog 27 will be pushed laterally out of each notch 29 withwhich it registers, the rear side of each notch having an inclined face39 adapted for this purpose. Similarly, when the counting wheel isrotated during the forward movement of its actuating slide 13, thespring actuated dog 33 will be pushed laterally out of the notches withwhich it registers, successively.

Each number wheel 25 is provided on its outer face, e. the side faceopposite that on which its actuating ratchet is located) with a set ofteeth 41, in mesh with the teeth 13 of a transferring wheel 45, mountedupon back shaft 47. This transferring wheel carries a dog L19 adapted toengage any one of the notches 29 of the next succeeding number wheel onshaft 24, once during each revolution of transferring wheel 45, therebyadvancing the succeeding number wheel rotatably a distance equal to thedistance between successive notches 29. In this manner each completerevolution of a number wheel may be indicated upon the next succeedingnumber wheel by advancing the latter one notch. p

Each of the number wheels is provided with two annular rows of numbersor characters ranging from zero to nine inclusive, (one number orcharacter'being provided adjacent to each notch 29 in the side of thewheel), there being ten notches 29. One set of numbers is arranged forcounting or adding purposes, with the zero character normally exposed atthe sight opening, and the successive characters or number being exposedin natural order at the sight opening. When the slide moves forwardly,the arrangement is such that when the slide pointer has advanced fromnormal zero position to the numeral 1 of the index, adjacent to the slot9 occupied by the pointer, the number wheel will be advanced to exposethe numeral 1 at the sight opening, provided the rotation of the numberwheel has started from the normal zero point. If the slide be thenreturned to normal position and again advanced to bring the pointer tothe numeral 1 of the index the corresponding number wheel will berotated one notch to expose the numeral 2 at the sight opening, so faras the described set of numerals is concerned, this set beinghereinafter termed the right hand set of numerals.

But the left hand set of numerals is reversed in order of arrangement.Each of these numerals is positioned at the side and to the left of thenumerals of the right hand set, but the numerals of the left hand setextend around the wheel in reverse order, the numeral 9 of the left handset being associated with the numeral 1 of the right hand set. The sightopenings 11 are elongated sufliciently to expose both numerals, i. e.,one numeral of each set. But, underneath the sight openings I haveprovided a transverse slide 48, having an operating lip 49 at one sideof the machine, and provided with apertures 51 of less size than thesight aperture 11 in the transverse dimension, and so arranged as tosize and location that only one set of numerals, on each number wheel,will be exposed, the slide being capable of adjustment transversely ofthe machine to expose one numeral of either the right hand or left handsets.

lVith the above arrangement the slide 48 will be adjusted to ex ose theright hand numerals on each num er wheel, when the slides are beingactuated for the purpose of addition. lVhen they are to be actuated forthe purpose of subtraction slide 48 will be adjusted to expose the lefthand numerals on the respective wheels, and it will be assumed for thepurpose of computation that each zero character represents 10, the finalor right hand zero character being assumed to represent ten decimals, incase the subraction is to be carried into fractions of a unit.

@affecting operations.

The resilient dogs 33 may be retracted by a set of wedge members 60mounted upon the lower ends of vertically extending rods 61, the upperends of which project through the cap, and are provided with knobs 62.These rods extend through a friction bar 63, whereby they tend to remainin any position of vertical adjustment to which they may be manuallymoved by means of the knobs 62. By pushing downwardly on the knobs 62the dogs 33 may be crowded laterally by the wedge members 60, wherebybackward rotation of the number wheels will be permitted.

Printing without adding.

' The cage 64 in which the number wheels are mounted, may be swungdownwardly upon its pivotal connection with the flanges 4 at 65, thusdisengaging the pinions 23 from the rack teeth 19 on the slides. Thismay be done by a crank 66 located at the opposite end of the cage, andwhich is utilized to support the cage with the pinions either in or outof mesh with the racks. When out of mesh, the slides may be actuated toposition for printing the totals exposed at the sight openings, withoutactuating the num,- ber Wheels.

Resettz'ag operations.

A knob 67, connected with cross shaft 24 on. which ythe number wheelsare rotatably mounted, may be manually actuated to rotatev the numberwheels forwardly independently of the slides and pinions. Eachnmnfberwheel is provided with a resilient catch 68, adapted to engage ina notch (S9-in` The printing mec/71 (mism.

Each of the slide bars 13 is provided with an extension 75 havingprinting characters 77 disposed along its under surface. When the slidebars are pulled forwardly these printing` characters are carried overthe surface of an inking roller 79, having a shaft 80 ournaled inelbowed supporting arms 81, at the respective ends of t-he shaft 80. Thelower ends of the supporting arms are pivoted to a cross shaft 83, and aspring S5 tends to hold these supporting arms with roller 80 in a.raised position, and in contact with the characters on the extensionbars 75. Airink reservoir 87 may also be mounted upon the supportingarms S1, the lower surface of roller 79 being in contact with the ink insaid reservoir. The ink will preferably be in the forni of a paste, andthe reservoir will be yieldingly held to the roller 79 in accordancewith common practice where 'inling rollers are to be employed. The

inking roller 79 will be actuated by frictional contact of the printingcharacters 77 with its upper surface. The printing charactersy willordinarily comprise numerals corresponding with those displayed upon thenumber wheels.

l/Vhen the slides have been adjusted in a position for adding thedesired number, the cap or top plate Q, may be pushed downwardly at itsfront end, said top plate 2 swinging upon its `pivotal connection withthe casing at 7, near its rear end. In this manner the printingcharacters representing the proper number may be brought into contactwith the record strip of paper 88, which extends over a platen 90, thestrip of paper 8S being advanced preparatory to each printing operationby a partial rotation of the platen 90,.motion for this purpose beingtransmitted from the arms S1 through a set of pawls 91 and ratchetwheels 92, mounted on the respective ends of the platen. A springactuated dog 93, adapted to engage the same atchet wheels, preventsbackward rotation of the platen.

In the .construction shown, the record strip is initially wound upon aroller 95, in the rear end of the machine. Thestrip passes from-this.roller 95 over a suitable guide 96, which curves upwardly from anintermediate pointe in the bottom of the casing, and partially encirclesthe platen on the front side, whereby the paper is held to the platen,and is fed over the latter step by step to the rear end portion ofy themachine, where it passes .over another guide 97, adapted to carry itover the roller 'to the exterior.

t will, of course, be understood that the printing characters 77 are soarranged upon they slide extension 7 5 that when a slide 13 has beenadvanced toexpose any given numeral at the sight opening pertaining tosuch slide, a similar type numeral, or printing character representing.it, will be positioned for printing` contact with the paper on theplaten, when the top plate is depressed. F or example, if one of theslides 13 is advanced to add the number 3 upon the unit number wheel,the unit slide extension 75 will be advanced to bring the type numeral 3into printing position. As soon as..

the printing operation is completed and the manual pressure upon the topplate-released, said top plate will be raised to normal position by theactuating springs of the arms S1, exerting pressure through the inkingroller 7 9'upon the under surfaces-of the slide extensions 75. lllhenthe slides are next advanced and a second printing operationperformed byagain depressing the top plate, the downward. movementof the top platewill, while pressing` the inking roller 79 downwardly and backwardly,also actuate the platen 90 by means of the pawls 91 to advance therecord strip S8 and its printed numerals, thereby presenting animprinted surface for. the next printing. operation.

lWhen subtracting, it will of course be understood that the column offigures representing an addition column on the record strip will beclosed by printing the total in. the manner above described, viz: bydepressing` the cage to disengage the pinions from the rack teeth on theslides, and then adjusting the slides to a position indicating the totalexposed by the number wheels at the sight openings. Printing characterson the slideextensions which will then be in printing position will alsorepresent the total, and by depressing the top plate this total may beprinted.

In order that the total. may be separated from the foot of the column tobe added, I provide each slide with a dash or period at its extremity,which dash or period will be in printing position when the slide is inits normal retracted posit-ion. Therefore,l by depressing the top platewhen all the slides are in normal retracted position a line of dashes orperiods may be printed upon the record sheet. The total may thereafter'be printed below this line.

Vhen subtracting operations are to be performed, the total of theaddition column will be printed on the record sheet, after which thenumber to be subtracted Will be printed thereon in the same manner aswhen adding, except, of course, that before adjusting the slides incorrespondence with the number to be subtracted, the sight controllingslide 48 will be adjusted to expose the subtraction numerals, andconceal the addition numerals with which the number wheels are provided.Therefore, when the slides are adjusted to a position for printing thenumber to be subtracted, the number wheels will show the result, suchresult being obtained by complemental addition, the left hand numeral inthe column above the highest numeral in the total previously printedbeing disregarded in readingr the figures or numbers exposed by thenumber wheels. The total thus indicated will then be printed upon therecord strips as in total printing, the cage being first depressed, andthe slides adjusted to print the result of the subtraction process.

lVhere a seriesof numbers are to be subtracted, the operation as abovedescribed may be repeated, thereby separately subtracting eachsuccessive number. But if the series to be subtracted is lengthy, itwill, of course, be found more desirable to print the total of theaddition column, and then reset the number wheels to zero, and add theseries of numbers to be subtracted as in ordinary addition, after whichtheir total may be printed. When by resetting the number wheels toindicate the first total, and subsequently adjusting the sightcontrolling slide 48 to expose the subtraction numerals, and thenactuating the slides in correspondence with the subtraction totalpreviously ascertained, the inal result will be indicated upon the.number wheels. Thereupon, the cage will be depressed, and the slidesadjusted to print the indicated result upon the record strip.

It is possible to have two sets of characters or marks on theextremities of the slides, one set comprising dashes and the othercomprising periods. The dashes may then be used under an addition columnand the dots or periods may be used under a subtraction column.

Vliile T have illustrated the springs 85 as utilized to elevate theinling roller, the top plate and the slides, I do not limit the scope ofmy invention to this particular means of readjustment, it beingimmaterial whether the top plate and slides are resiliently lifted ormanually readjusted, or otherwise carried to normal position afterprinting operations.

A clearing slide 107 is preferably mounted upon the under side of thetop plate between the top plate and the slides, in a position to moverearwardly and adjust all the computing slides back to normal positionsimultaneously by engaging their operating handles 15.

I claim:

l. A computing machine, including the combination of a slide carryingtop plate pivotally supported at its rear end, a series of number wheelssupported from the top plate, and provided with pinions of less diameterthan the wheels, a set of slides carried by the top plate and mountedfor longitudinal movement thereon between the upper portions of thenumber wheels, each slide being provided with depending printingcharacters at one end, and rack teeth at the other end, normally in meshwith one of said pinions, and a platen adapted to support a record stripin the path of printing characters on the slides when the latter areswung downwardly by a depression of the top plate.

2. In a computing machine, the combination with a casing provided with aplaten roller, and means for feeding a record strip over said platen, aslide carrying plate having its rear end pivotally connected with thecasing and its front end overhanging said platen, the rear portion ofsaid plate being slotted and provided with index numerals adjacent tothe slots, a set of slides mounted on the under side of the top plate,and provided with actuating members extending through said slots, a setof printing characters mounted in lineal series on the front endportions of said slides, and adapted to be advanced successively topositions above the platen by adjustment of the slides along the topplate, said printing characters being arranged in correspondence withthe index characters, whereby the actuating members mayindicate upon theindex the position of the printing characters, and means for resilientlysupporting the top plate at a distance from the platen, said top platebeing adapted to be manually depressed to bring the printing charactersinto contact with the record strip on the platen when such charactersare adjusted in printing position by actuation of the slides.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with a supporting casing, ofa top plate having one end pivotally connected with the casing, a Cagehaving hinged connectionv with the top plate, a set of number wheelsmounted in the cage, a set of slides carried by the top plate, means fortransmitting motion from the slides to the number wheels,

said top plate being provided with a set of index characters, and theslides being provided with actuating members arranged to travel alongthe index, whereby the position of each slide may be indicated by theindex, and means for moving the cage to carry the number wheels into andout of operative relation to the slides.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with a supporting casing, ofa top plate having one end pivotally connected with the casing, a cagehaving hinged connection with the top plate, a set of number wheelsmounted in the cage, a set of slides carried by the top plate, means fortransmitting motion from the slides to the number wheels, said top platebeing provided with a set of index characters, and the slides beingprovided with actuating members arranged to travel along theindex,rwhereby the position of each slide may be indicated by the index,means for moving the cage to carry the number wheels into and out ofoperative relation to the slides, and means for resetting the numberwheels in Zero position when out of operative relation to the slides.

5. In a computing machine, the con'ibination with the casing, providedwith a top plate pivotally connected with the casing near one end, a setof slides mounted upon the top plate for longitudinal movement, andprovided with depending teeth, a cage having one end in hingedconnection with the top plate, a set of pinions v rotatably mounted inthe cage, each pinion having teeth in'mesh with the teeth on one of theslides, a set of number wheels mounted in the cage, means fortransmitting motion in one direction' from each pinion to one of thenumber Wheels, manual devices for swinging the cage upon said hingedconnection to disengage the pinions from the teeth on the slides, andmeans for manually resetting the number wheels when the pinions aredisengaged from such slides.

6. In a computing machine, the combination with a roller platen arrangedto support and advance a paper record strip, a carrier provided withprinting characters resiliently supported out of contact with the recordstrip and platen, an inking roller resiliently supported for contactwith said printing characters and adapted to yield when such charactersare actuated in the direction of the record strip and platen, and meansfor transmitting yielding movements of the inking roller supports toactuate the platen for advancement of the record sheet step by step.

7. In a computing machine, the combina tion with a roller platen adaptedto support a record strip, a set of resiliently supported arms, aninking roller journaled in said arms, pawl and ratchet mechanismarranged to transmit motion from said arms to the platen to rotate thelatter step by step, a set of printing characters, means for manuallyadjusting said characters successively in printing position withreference to the platen, and means for simultaneously actuating saidcharacters in the direction of the platen, and depressing saidsupporting arms of the inking roller.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

AUGUST A. MOTHS.

Vitnesses OTTILIA C. WEBER, FREDERICK W. NOI/rn.

